News from April 30, 2025 at 2 PM

The Pakistani government stated early Wednesday that India plans to take military action against Pakistan within the next 24 to 36 hours. Pakistan's Minister of Information and Broadcasting claimed India is using recent shootings in Jammu and Kashmir as a pretext. On April 22, a shooting in the region killed 26 people, with India accusing Pakistan of supporting cross-border terrorism. India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, to which Pakistan responded by halting trade, closing its airspace to India, and expelling Indian diplomats. Pakistani forces shot down an Indian spy drone in Kashmir, with both sides engaging in continuous gunfire. UN Secretary-General Guterres spoke with Pakistan's Prime Minister and India's Foreign Minister, expressing deep concern and offering mediation. US Secretary of State Rubio is set to call the foreign ministers of both countries, urging them to de-escalate tensions.

Power began to return to parts of the Iberian Peninsula late on April 28 following a massive outage that brought large areas of Spain and Portugal to a standstill, grounding flights, halting public transport, and forcing some hospitals to suspend routine operations. Spain's Interior Ministry declared a national emergency, and both countries' governments convened emergency Cabinet meetings to investigate the cause of the blackout, which began around 10.33am GMT. Portugal's Prime Minister Luis Montenegro stated there was no indication of a cyberattack. Power resumed in Spain's Basque country, Barcelona, and parts of Madrid on April 28, while various municipalities in Portugal, including Lisbon city center, also saw gradual power restoration. Hospitals, oil refineries, and retail businesses in both countries were affected, with traffic lights and metro systems failing, leaving many people stranded.

U.S. and British forces conducted a joint military operation in Yemen on Tuesday, targeting a Houthi military facility responsible for manufacturing drones used to attack ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The facility, located about 24 km south of Yemen's capital Sanaa, was identified through intelligence analysis. President Donald Trump ordered an intensification of U.S. strikes in Yemen last month, vowing to continue assaulting Iran-backed Houthi rebels until they cease attacks on Red Sea shipping. The British statement noted the operation was carried out at night to minimize civilian casualties, with their aircraft returning safely. Houthi-controlled media previously reported a U.S. airstrike killed 68 people at a detention center for African migrants in Yemen. Recent U.S. strikes have resulted in dozens of deaths, including 74 in a mid-April attack on an oil terminal, raising concerns from rights advocates about civilian killings.

The majority of members of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) have approved a coalition agreement with the conservative bloc of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Christian Social Union (CSU), clearing the way for the formation of a new German government. Voting began on April 15 and lasted 15 days, concluding on April 29. Of the approximately 358,000 SPD members, 56% participated, with 84.6% approving the agreement. At least 20% of party members were required to approve the 144-page coalition pact. On May 6, Christian Democrat leader Friedrich Merz will be elected as the new chancellor in the Bundestag, with his government members sworn in the same day. Germany held early parliamentary elections on February 23, with the CDU/CSU bloc winning 28.5% of the vote, the Alternative for Germany party coming in second with 20.8%, and the SPD finishing third with 16.4%.

Iranian state media reported that an Iranian man convicted of espionage and intelligence cooperation with Israel was executed on Wednesday. The man, identified as Mohsen Langarneshin, was accused of involvement in several cases, including the death of a Revolutionary Guards colonel in 2022. According to Iran's judiciary media outlet Mizan, during his two years as a spy, he supported terrorist operations and was present at the assassination of Sayad Khodai. He also provided operational support for an attack on an industrial center in Isfahan linked to the Ministry of Defence. Earlier this week, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi accused Israel of seeking to derail Iran-U.S. nuclear talks, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejecting limits on Tehran's uranium enrichment and pushing for the full dismantlement of its nuclear infrastructure.

On the evening of April 29, a severe fire broke out at a hotel in the center of Kolkata, India, resulting in 14 deaths, including two children. At the time of the fire, there were 88 guests in the hotel. The flames spread rapidly, with thick smoke filling the corridors within minutes. Trapped individuals attempted to escape through narrow window ledges, and at least one person died from jumping from a height. Firefighters managed to control the blaze by the early morning of April 30. Currently, the fire has caused 14 deaths and 13 injuries, with some of the injured in critical condition. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences to the victims on social media. The Indian government has established a special investigation team to probe the fire, and the building has been sealed off.

British police announced on Wednesday that a man has been charged with terrorism offenses and possession of a bladed weapon after attempting to enter the Israeli embassy in London unauthorizedly. The man was detained on Monday evening while trying to gain access to the embassy grounds in west London and was arrested on suspicion of public order offenses, trespassing on a designated site, and possessing an offensive weapon. Detectives later charged Abdullah Sabah Albadri, 33, with preparing a terrorist act and two counts of possessing a bladed article. Commander Dominic Murphy, head of London police's Counter Terrorism Command, reassured the public that no wider threat is perceived and no other individuals are being sought. Albadri is scheduled to appear at London's Westminster Magistrates' Court later on Wednesday. The Israeli embassy thanked British security forces for preventing a potential terror attack and affirmed its commitment to representing Israel in the UK despite any threats.

Since the start of the war in October 2023, over 50 employees of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), including teachers, doctors, and social workers, have been subjected to cruel treatment and torture by Israeli servicemen in the Gaza Strip. These staff members were detained and abused in the most shocking and inhumane manner, according to UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini. He reported that the employees were beaten and used as human shields, enduring sleep deprivation, humiliation, threats to themselves and their families, and attacks by dogs, with many forced into confessions. Lazzarini demands justice and punishment for all those responsible for these flagrant violations of international law.

On April 29, following the BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the Foreign Ministry of Brazil issued a declaration. The declaration noted that BRICS member-countries are concerned about the rise of unjustified unilateral protectionist measures that are inconsistent with the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO), including indiscriminate increases in reciprocal tariffs and non-tariff measures. These measures disrupt global supply chains and add more uncertainty to the global economy. The ministers called upon all parties to take measures to defend free trade and the multilateral trading system, aiming to address current trade challenges and foster a favorable trade and investment environment for all.

Russia is set to commemorate the 80th anniversary of its victory in the Great Patriotic War. Reports on April 30th indicated that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not attend the Victory Day celebrations in Moscow on May 9th. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed Modi's absence but stated that India will send a representative. Indian Defense Minister Singh is likely to attend as the representative. Indian media speculate that Modi's decision may be linked to the tense situation in the Indian-controlled Kashmir region, though the Indian government has not yet responded.

Singer Katy Perry recently responded to the controversy surrounding her participation in a Blue Origin space trip, admitting she felt 'battered and bruised' but reassured fans she is okay and will continue to 'look to the light'. Two weeks after the 11-minute space flight with five other women, she faced backlash online. Fans showed support by renting a billboard in New York's Times Square. Perry expressed gratitude, saying she has grown with her fans on this 'beautiful and wild journey'. Despite recent criticism of her album and music video, she remains resilient. Singer Lily Allen also apologized for her earlier criticism. Perry has embarked on a world tour that will last several months and visit multiple countries.

The European Court of Justice ruled on Tuesday that Malta must end its golden passport program, which allows wealthy foreigners to purchase citizenship, stating it infringes EU law. In 2022, the EU Commission took Malta to court over the scheme, which grants passports and the right to live and work in any EU country in exchange for an investment of around 1 million euros ($1.14 million). The court said that while member states can determine nationality grants, Malta's program undermined mutual trust among member states. The court emphasized that granting nationality for predetermined payments commercializes the process, hindering the necessary bond of solidarity. Malta has insisted its interpretation of EU treaties was correct, suspending the program for Russian and Belarusian nationals due to the Ukraine war but continuing for others. The case was referred to the EU Court after years of disputes, with the EU Commission initiating an infringement procedure in October 2020, which resulted in no significant changes.

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Tuesday evening renaming the airport in Volgograd as Stalingrad, in honor of the largest battle of World War Two where the Soviet army defeated Nazi German forces. The decree, published on the Kremlin's website, aims to perpetuate the victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. The Battle of Stalingrad, renamed Volgograd in 1961, was the bloodiest battle of the war, with the Soviet Red Army inflicting over 1 million casualties to break the German invasion forces in 1942-1943. In a 2023 speech in Volgograd, Putin criticized Germany for arming Ukraine and hinted at readiness to use Russia's entire arsenal, including nuclear weapons.